1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Zoot Suit. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
Zoot suit takes place in Los Angeles California in the 1940's. Henry is the main character and Pacchuco is his conscious. His gang is the 38th Street Gang and the play begins with the gang heading to dance. The enemy gang is called The Downeys.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion is when Henry and his girlfriend go to the lagoon. When they arrive, a huge fight breaks out between the gangs and one man ends up dead. This causes the plot to turn and many things rapidly unfold.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
This is the day that the gang life comes back to bite Henry in the back. When a murder occurs at the lagoon, his life is changed forever.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrustion.)
Will Henry and his gang have justice and will the discrimination stop?
5. Use Henry to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Wedding Band the wants of Julia are in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a charcter. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles. Henry wants to be free so he can be with the love of his life outside of prison. Henry vs. Himself: He cannot help that he is locked up. The judicial system discriminated him against the color of his skin. His own body got in the way of his freedom. Henry vs. the Downeys: Henry wants to prove his power and strength but the Downeys easily won the battle when they did not get prosecuted for the murder. They are his physicalenemy in the play. Henry vs. Society: The society of the 1940's was very racist and did not give minorities a fair chance at anything. They say that he was different and immediately labeled him as a violent person. Henry vs. Fate: His fate was shown in three paths at the end of the play. He dies too young in two of them and survived in the last one. Fate was telling him that his chances at living were not so big.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Zoot Suit. There are more than one.
The most theatrical moment of the play is the ending where Henry is running away and Pacchuco falls to the ground. When Henry comes to help him up, it's his friend laying there, screaming for help! It was intense and was shocking to find out.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Zoot Suit. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
1. The Zoot Suit: This style of suits signified the blending of American and Hispanic culture. It resonated with a gang group and symbolized power. 2. The Knife: The knife that Henry brought to the dance was important because it shows that he is always on his toes. He never relaxes nor trusts anyone. 3. The family at dinner: Henry's mother and father at dinner before he leaves for the dance symbolizes his heritage and tradition. They are the Mexican culture he was raised in and he is leaving it. Henry is in a rush to leave his home to go to the dance with his gang and it shows the transition to a Mexican-American.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Zoot Suit.
Racism, gangs, Hispanic Culture, law enforcement, judicial system, murder, love, family, dance, military
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Zoot Suit?
Henry's immediate family is shown quite a few times in the play as described earlier. His traditional parents are in the beginning which show that Henry comes from a stable home. Another example of family in the play is the gangs. His gang is his support and brotherhood that he does everything with. They stand by each other and protect each other. This is an unusual way to think of family but it definitely applies for this play.
Zoot suit takes place in Los Angeles California in the 1940's. Henry is the main character and Pacchuco is his conscious. His gang is the 38th Street Gang and the play begins with the gang heading to dance. The enemy gang is called The Downeys.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion is when Henry and his girlfriend go to the lagoon. When they arrive, a huge fight breaks out between the gangs and one man ends up dead. This causes the plot to turn and many things rapidly unfold.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
This is the day that the gang life comes back to bite Henry in the back. When a murder occurs at the lagoon, his life is changed forever.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrustion.)
Will Henry and his gang have justice and will the discrimination stop?
5. Use Henry to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Wedding Band the wants of Julia are in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a charcter. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
Henry wants to be free so he can be with the love of his life outside of prison.
Henry vs. Himself: He cannot help that he is locked up. The judicial system discriminated him against the color of his skin. His own body got in the way of his freedom.
Henry vs. the Downeys: Henry wants to prove his power and strength but the Downeys easily won the battle when they did not get prosecuted for the murder. They are his physical enemy in the play.
Henry vs. Society: The society of the 1940's was very racist and did not give minorities a fair chance at anything. They say that he was different and immediately labeled him as a violent person.
Henry vs. Fate: His fate was shown in three paths at the end of the play. He dies too young in two of them and survived in the last one. Fate was telling him that his chances at living were not so big.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Zoot Suit. There are more than one.
The most theatrical moment of the play is the ending where Henry is running away and Pacchuco falls to the ground. When Henry comes to help him up, it's his friend laying there, screaming for help! It was intense and was shocking to find out.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Zoot Suit. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
1. The Zoot Suit: This style of suits signified the blending of American and Hispanic culture. It resonated with a gang group and symbolized power.
2. The Knife: The knife that Henry brought to the dance was important because it shows that he is always on his toes. He never relaxes nor trusts anyone.
3. The family at dinner: Henry's mother and father at dinner before he leaves for the dance symbolizes his heritage and tradition. They are the Mexican culture he was raised in and he is leaving it. Henry is in a rush to leave his home to go to the dance with his gang and it shows the transition to a Mexican-American.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Zoot Suit.
Racism, gangs, Hispanic Culture, law enforcement, judicial system, murder, love, family, dance, military
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Zoot Suit?
Henry's immediate family is shown quite a few times in the play as described earlier. His traditional parents are in the beginning which show that Henry comes from a stable home. Another example of family in the play is the gangs. His gang is his support and brotherhood that he does everything with. They stand by each other and protect each other. This is an unusual way to think of family but it definitely applies for this play.